Higher fines for public order violators

Higher fines for public order violators

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration and the city council are
seeking stiffer punishment for public order violators, especially
those who damage the environment.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said the administration and the
council would propose the government raise the fines imposed on
offenders.

The current punishment, a Rp 30,000 (US$,12.50) fine, or
three-months jail term is too small and an ineffective deterrent,
Surjadi said at a meeting between city executives and councilors
at City Hall yesterday.

The proposal comes in response to lingering evidence of past
violations, such as the soil spilled by developers' trucks on the
city's streets.

Surjadi also stressed that stern and consistent action should
be taken against offenders.

Raids on illegal roadside vendors were also discussed at the
meeting.

The governor said operations on roadside vendors would
continue in the most proper way.

For the Tanah Abang market vendors, he said a suitable way was
being studied.

The raids on the roadside vendors in Tanah Abang, Central
Jakarta, had led to vendors' violent protests.

They set the district head's office and a vehicle on fire and
damaged six other vehicles on Jan. 27. (ste)